UK SPEAKS OUT ON SWAZI RIGHTS

Peter Kenworthy, stiffkitten

9 September 2011

SOURCE

United Kingdom concerned about human rights situation in Swaziland

“The UK is deeply concerned about the continuing decline in good governance and human rights in Swaziland, and the lack of progress towards democracy,” the United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Africa Directorate says in a letter from September 7 [2011]. The letter was addressed to the many people who had complained about Swaziland’s absolute monarch, King Mswat III’s, invitation to the British royal wedding in April 2011, and specifically calls on the Swazi regime to uphold human rights.

“The UK calls on the Government of Swaziland to abide by the 2005 Constitution, which guarantees the rights of all Swazi citizens to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression,” the letter says.

According to the FCO, the United Kingdom has repeatedly raised the issues of Swaziland’s human rights record with King Mswati III and his ministers, as well as taking action together within the purview of the European Union.

“The UK takes every available opportunity to make our views known to the Swazi authorities,” the letter stated. “Our non-resident High Commissioner, with her EU colleagues, met with King Mswati III on 10 March in Swaziland, during which human rights and governance issues were raised, whilst our non-resident Deputy High Commissioner directly raised our concerns on human rights with the Swazi Foreign Minister on 13 April.

“Following the anti government protests in Swaziland on 12 April, the UK led the drafting and issuing of an EU statement expressing concern at the actions of the Government of Swaziland. More recently, our new Deputy High Commissioner visited Swaziland in August 2011 to engage with the Government.”

LUTFO LIES ABOUT MEDIA SUPPORT

Swaziland cabinet minister Lutfo Dlamini is talking nonsense when he claims that he has won over the media in England and they now no longer have ‘negative perceptions’ about the kingdom.

The Times of Swaziland today (6 May 2011) quotes Dlamini saying that when he was in England last week with King Mswati III for the British Royal Wedding, he won the ‘battle’ with journalists there to dispel their negative perceptions of Swaziland ‘hand down’.

What he says is just not true. There has not been a single report in the British newspapers, radio or television that supports King Mswati, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, or the undemocratic regime he controls. Not one. This was the case before the wedding, during the wedding and since the wedding.

And if you don’t believe me, go to http://news.google.co.uk/ key in the word SWAZILAND and look for yourself.

Most of the reports reveal that King Mswati is a selfish despot who spends lavishly on himself and his family while seven in ten of his subjects live in abject poverty. These are not ‘negative perceptions’ as Dlamini likes to call them; these are facts.

The UK media are not alone in telling their audiences the truth about Swaziland. The same message is repeated right the way across the globe. Just about the only media you’ll find that supports the king are the media in Swaziland.

So, not for the first time, Lutfo Dlamini has been caught out lying to the Swazi people. He is a compulsive liar and we should not believe a word he says.

Unless, of course, he actually believes what he says: in which case he is delusional.

IS THIS PICTURE OF SWAZI KING A FAKE?

Is this photograph of Swaziland’s King Mswati III with Inkhosikati LaMahlangu a fake?

I ask because I can’t imagine that the Swazi King would be so stupid to allow himself to be photographed in such an undignified pose – with a cheap plastic hat sold to tourists on the streets of London. And his wife has an equally tatty plastic Union Jack flag.

The picture appears today (5 May 2011) on the Swazi Observer website.

The newspaper describes it as a ‘courtesy’ picture – that is one that was given to it free of charge, but does not give the source.

This is the caption the newspaper gave the photograph, ‘MBUBE: His Majesty King Mswati III and Inkhosikati LaMahlangu pose before attending one of Prince William’s wedding functions.’

SWAZILAND LONDON PROTEST PICTURES

Photos from the protest at the Four Seasons Hotel, London, on Saturday (30 April 2011) against King Mswati III, his invitation to the British Royal Wedding the previous day, and his continuing oppression of democracy in the kingdom where he rules as sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarch.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/actsa/sets/72157626636770320/with/5682739515/

‘KING SNEAKED INTO ROYAL WEDDING’

Times Live, South Africa

30 April 2011

SOURCE

Mswati plays the artful dodger

Swazi King Mswati III had to sneak into Westminster Abbey on Friday to avoid royal wedding embarrassment.

The controversial absolute monarch, whose country is ranked among the poorest in the world, spent much of this week playing hide-and-seek with pro-democracy demonstrators tailing him across London.

Mswati was not seen entering the front of the abbey, but apparently used a side entrance to keep a low profile in case of further protest action, according to members of pro-democracy group Swaziland Vigil.

"The royal family requested that he enter privately through a back door to avoid controversy," said pro-democracy activist Fungayi Mabhunu. "I only saw a glimpse of him inside."

Although the exact seating plan inside the abbey is still unclear, it appears Mswati took his place in the 'south transept' section - dubbed "the pew of evil" by some British media owing to the presence of foreign dignitaries from several rogue states.

While some former British prime ministers were excluded from the guest list - notably Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - the list included the likes of Mswati and Zimbabwean ambassador to London Gabriel Machinga, a prominent member of Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF.

The king's official spokesman, Bheki Dlamini, confirmed Mswati's presence in London, but could not be reached yesterday for comment on how he arrived inside the abbey.

Earlier in the week, Dlamini added to the game of royal hide-and-seek by refusing to divulge any details of the king's visit. "That's not my territory," Dlamini told the Sunday Times when pressed for details of Mswati's travel plans.

Mswati also kept activists guessing about his accommodation plans. He and his entourage - reportedly about 50 strong - are believed to have originally booked into the ultra-swanky Dorchester Hotel, where rooms cost upwards of R5000 a night.

Protesters staged a small demonstration outside the hotel on Tuesday, only to discover that the king had switched his booking to the equally posh Four Seasons Hotel, down the road.

The Swazi government is currently in the midst of a severe financial crisis and is battling to pay for basic services such as electricity. Last month, the country's main newspaper reported that the state electricity company was owed R13.5-million and was threatening to pull the plug on several ministries.